City of Kimberley economic development officer Heather Hornoi, the District of Elkford and Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission’s Metabridge project have won the 2011 B.C. Economic Development Awards.
This is the 22nd year the Economic Development Association of BC (EDABC) has presented the awards, which EDABC CEO Dale Wheeldon said acknowledge economic development work done throughout the province. He said that most B.C. communities are motivated in their pursuit of economic development.
“Some of them are limited or restricted by a lack of resources, but they are motivated and eager to learn,” he said. “I think a clear indication of that is who the winners were this year: small rural communities, other than Kelowna.”
Wheeldon said Hornoi’s win as economic development leader of the year was in large part due to her work developing the Kimberley Conference and Athlete Training Centre.
“Heather has clearly made a huge difference in the community with just the one project alone – the $7.4 million project for the Kimberly Conference and Athlete Training Centre,” he said. “It’s not just about attracting new industry; it’s about building a place, building a community and making sure that it has all the pieces in place to attract industry.”
Wheeldon said Elkford’s win in the marketing category comes from the quality and consistency of its marketing efforts.
Community project category winner Metabridge provides emerging technology companies with practical experience in deal making, commercialization and the ability to identify and secure new business leads.
Wheeldon said the project, which gives advice to local technology businesses from Silicon Valley technology leaders, provides benefits that go well beyond the Okanagan.
“It has benefits for all B.C. technology-based companies,” he said. “The fact that they’ve pulled together partners from the Silicon Valley to help provide that one-on-one advice from senior leaders that are involved in successful technology companies – clearly it’s helping companies grow into new markets and frankly it’s helping their companies expand, create new jobs and create new investment.”
Jenny Wagler
Twitter: JennyWagler_BIV